Louie-McGee, Gubrud named to preseason all-Big Sky football team
Redshirt sophomore receiver Jerry Louie-McGee of Montana, a former Lake City High standout, was one of three Griz named to the 2017 Big Sky Conference Preseason All-Conference Team announced Monday by the league.
Louie-McGee led the Griz with 651 total yards in just eight games played. Louie-McGee shattered two Montana records as a freshman, hauling in 21 receptions against Cal Poly to break Josh Paffhausen’s 1997 record of 15 catches in a single game.
Eastern Washington junior quarterback Gage Gubrud was picked to defend his title as the league’s Offensive MVP, joining two other Eagles on the preseason all-conference team.
Gubrud was joined by senior defensive end Albert Havili and junior safety Mitch Fettig.
A year ago, Gubrud joined teammate Cooper Kupp as the MVP on offense, while Fettig earned honorable mention all-league honors.
As a first-year starter, Gubrud broke the NCAA FCS record for passing yards with 5,160. In all, he broke three FCS records, seven Big Sky Conference marks and 18 EWU records. He finished with 48 touchdown passes and a Big Sky record of 5,766 yards of total offense, and was also the team’s leading rusher with 606 yards and five more scores.
A former linebacker, Havili had 61 tackles with five sacks from his defensive end position in 2016, with two passes broken up and a team-high eight quarterback hurries. Entering his final year as an Eagle, Havili has 148 tackles in his 42-game Eastern career and was a 2013 graduate of Federal Way (Wash.) High.
Fettig, a 2014 graduate of Olympia (Wash.) High, had 97 tackles to rank third on the team a year ago — tops among returning players. He had four interceptions and five passes broken up as a sophomore, and is a candidate for Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades in 2017.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gage Gubrud, QB, Eastern Washington
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cole Reyes, S, North Dakota
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington
Wide Receivers: Emmanuel Butler, Northern Arizona (Consensus); Keelan Doss, UC Davis; Jerry Louie-McGee, Montana
Offensive Tackles: David Reese, Montana; Randin Crecelius, Portland State
Offensive Guards: Tyler Shank, Northern Arizona; Demon Taylor, North Dakota
Center: Joey Kuperman, Cal Poly
Tight End: Andrew Vollert, Weber State (Consensus)
Running Backs: John Santiago, North Dakota (Consensus); Brady Oliveira, North Dakota
Fullback: Joe Protheroe, Cal Poly
DEFENSE
Defensive Tackle: Robert Torgerson, Southern Utah; Anthony Del Toro, Portland State
Defensive End: Albert Havili, Eastern Washington; Ben Sorensen, Sacramento State
Outside Linebackers: Mike Needham, Southern Utah; Josh Buss, Montana
Inside Linebackers: Mac Bignell, Montana State; Landon Stice, Weber State
Cornerbacks: Deion Harris, North Dakota; Taron Johnson, Weber State
Safeties: Cole Reyes, North Dakota; Mitch Fettig, Eastern Washington
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker: Griffin Roehler, Northern Arizona
Return Specialist: John Santiago, North Dakota
Punter: Jacob DeMaio, Weber State
Special Teams: Hakeem Deggs, Northern Colorado